What is the Christkind- The Golden Haired Gift Giver in Germany

Even though I grew up in the United States, where Santa Claus dominated Christmas, my sister and I got presents from the Christkind (or Christkindl) on Christmas Eve. It was magical! We would hide in our bedroom, peering out the window, wondering when she would arrive. The Christkind coming was a special delivery just for us since we weren’t in Germany. Then, from the front of the house, a bell would ring! And Mom would knock on the door to let us know that the Christkind had come and left us our gifts. We would all stand as a family in front of the Christmas tree that sparkled with tinsel. The room bathed in candlelight, and we would sing until, finally, it was time for the Bescherung (opening gifts).

But what is the Christkind?

The word Christkind translates as Christ Child. But how does the Christ Child, the baby Jesus, bring gifts? And why does a golden-haired girl usually represent the Christkind?

Let me explain

What is the Christkind?

The story goes back to the 1600s, to Martin Luther and the Protestant Revolution. Until then, children got gifts on Dec 6, St Nicholas Day. They left shoes out overnight on the 5th and, in the morning, would find them filled with treats if they were good… and coal if they were bad (or worse, one of Nicholas’s companions would take a switch to them or haul them off!!). Martin Luther wanted to de-emphasize the Catholic Saints and put the focus on Christ’s birthday, and the kids got the gifts to celebrate his birth.

Martin Luther’s original intention was for the infant Jesus to bring gifts. Over time, the image of a baby bringing gifts transformed into an angelic figure with golden hair topped with a crown and golden wings, a female angel with Christ-like qualities.

Why is the Christkindl a Girl?

In the Middle Ages, Christmas Plays were a popular form of entertainment. The Angel who announced the birth of Christ was usually dressed in golden robes with a golden aura. A girl played this character. As time passed, the golden ethereal image of the Angel blurred with the image of the Christ child.

In 1969, the city of Nuremberg solidified the image by having a teenage girl play the role of Christkind, overseeing the Christkindlmarkt.

On Christmas Eve

In the past, many homes in Germany had a “gute Stube”… a good room, like a parlor or special living room… that could be closed off from the rest of the home. This room would be closed up in the days before Christmas. Parents would set up the Christmas Tree and decorate the room behind the door, probably on Christmas Eve. Families would eat a lighter meal, many attended a Church service, then home, and it was time to wait. In our home, we were sent to our bedrooms to keep a lookout through the window.

And then a bell would ring—the Christkind had come! Children were summoned to the room, which had been transformed, as if by magic! The tree was lit up by candles, and the presents were laid out underneath.

The Christkind Becomes Universal

As Europe became more secular, the lines began to blur. In the 19th Century, the Catholic Church in Germany adopted the Christkind as the gift-giver on Christmas Eve. You will find Christkind bringing gifts throughout Germany and much of Latin America. Some say that Christkind even accompanies St Nicholas on his rounds with St Nicholas!

And then things get blurry again.

The Christkind and the Weihnachtsmann

In the 1990s, Germany began to see more and more of the American Santa Claus figure in movies and advertising. Known as the Weihnactsmann, he is an entirely secular gift-giver. (I can imagine that German parents now have to face what my parents did… only in reverse.) Traditionalists in the Catholic and Lutheran churches are advocating for a return to Christkind to bring the religious meaning back to Christmas. How this will play out remains to be seen.

Do you get a visit from the Christkind?

My memories of Christmas Eve and the anticipation of waiting for the arrival of Christkind are crystal clear in my mind. In my heart, I will associate the ringing of the bell with a visit from Christkind and the golden light and gemütlichkeit of Heilig Abend or Christmas Eve.

I hope my children do, too.

I got to MEET the Christkind!

In 2019, I got to meet the Nürnberger Christkind on a visit to the Christmas Market. Honestly, I was so excited!! She oversees the Christkindlmarkt along with the Rauschgoldengel.

Children’s Books

Story books for your children.

Christkind, komm in unser HausChristkind verkehrt. Weihnachtsgeschichten.Frohliche Weihnachten, Liebes ChristkindWie der kleine Fuchs das Christkind sucht

Alle Jahre wieder, kommt das ChristkindMein erstes Christkind-Buch